Türkiye to Modernize 12 C-130J Aircraft Acquired From United Kingdom

As part of a defense agreement, Türkiye has purchased 12 C-130J military transport aircraft that were previously in service with the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom.

The spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced this on the ministry’s official account on X.

The aircraft were sent for maintenance and modernization at a UK facility before joining the Turkish Air Force.

Türkiye announced its intention to purchase the aircraft back in 2024.

The C-130Js had been in storage at a facility in Cambridge, as they were fully retired from the Royal Air Force in 2022. They were replaced by the European A400M model, which has become the UK’s primary transport aircraft.

It is currently unclear whether these aircraft will replace the existing fleet of older C-130 Hercules, which have already been modernized for continued use, or if they will serve as a temporary solution until a transition to more advanced equipment.

C-130

The C-130J Super Hercules is a modernized version of the C-130, developed by Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is designed for tactical transport, airdrop operations, medical evacuation, and humanitarian missions.

Its design allows it to operate from short and unprepared runways, making it indispensable in challenging conditions.

The J model is equipped with new Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines, digital avionics, automated flight control systems, and enhanced navigation.

The C-130J is capable of carrying up to 20 tons of cargo or more than 90 troops. Its configuration can be easily adapted for various missions — from transporting equipment to airdropping supplies by parachute.

In addition, Türkiye is offering the Royal Air Force new Hürjet advanced jet trainer aircraft, which were inspected by the current UK Secretary of State for Defence.

He highly praised their capabilities, particularly for participation in the British program to replace BAE Systems Hawk T.2 aircraft.